Honda Generator Question

[glock_nor_cal]

The EU2200i's have a fuel shut-off switch. I have one regular and one Companion, both 2-3 years old, and both of them have the shut-off feature to run the carb dry.

The shutoff switch is the thing on the gas cap right?

[Sailormilan2]

Fuel shutoff valve on my big Champion is just below the tank. On my little Champion 2400, the thing on the cap should be a vent. Periodically, which means whenever I think about it, I run the Big 9500 for about 20 minutes, then turn the valve off and let the engine suck the carb dry.
I normally keep several 5 gallon military gas cans filled with Summer grade gas, which I think is better gas. Normally I use Stabil, but the last time I used SeaFoam. SeaFoam seemed to work just fine.

[G-forceJunkie]

That's good to know Honda finally pulled their head out of their butt

The EU2200i's have a fuel shut-off switch. I have one regular and one Companion, both 2-3 years old, and both of them have the shut-off feature to run the carb dry.

[G-forceJunkie]

The shutoff switch is the thing on the gas cap right?

No, that should be the vent that allows air into the tank as fuel is consumed.
The one on the new hondas look like this:

[NATEWA]

Is the main benefit of switching to propane longevity? I.e. propane never goes bad? I have no more room in my prep area to store anything else, so if I stored propane tanks some of the Jerry cans would have to go. Gas storage serves dual purpose: filling vehicles and running the generator. I?d be open to propane if there is additional benefit other than shelf life

As posted by 120312, the decision to run propane is up to you. I have a lot of things that run on propane. As a result, I have a lot of propane tanks. My propane provider fills up my 20 and 30lb tanks so it?s cheap and convenient for me. I rarely use my generator so know as long as I charge the battery before winter and test it - all is good. I also change the oil and have a new container on hand for an oil change.

Friend picked up a large diesel generator because he has an off grid house and that was best for his location and situation.

[sonofeugene]

The shutoff switch is the thing on the gas cap right?

No. That?s just a vent for the gas tank.

[sonofeugene]

And if you have one of the earlier models of the 2000, it cannot be converted to propane. The companies that sell the conversions will be able to tell you which years can be converted.

[Corbin Dallas]

It?s fine to store without fuel. I will recommend you buy a spare fuel pump just in case the original fails due to a lack of lubrication from the fuel. The pump is a diaphragm and likely rubber inside.

Have you considered modifying your generator to run off an external fuel container? (Not the extended run type, I man bypass the internal fuel tank) It will take some work on your part, and you?ll want to make sure you prime the fuel system before use, but it can be done.

[ChuckD]

Something to think about that I haven't seen mentioned here: The generator in my RV has a recommendation that it be run for 2 hours at least once month to keep it serviceable. If it is not "exercised" regularly the "slip rings" corrode and cause the voltage regulator to overheat, damaging it.

So, if the generator needs to be run every month, it doesn't really seem worth the effort to completely drain the gas every month. I would think that if you synched your generator maintenance with your gas rotation - once a month run the generator for 2 hours, then turn the gas valve off and let run until it dies, then refill the tank, then pour the remaining gas from the gas cans into your car & refill them - this would keep your generator in good running shape & would keep the fuel rotated more often than you are currently doing it. I would also use 91 octane instead of 87.

For myself: once a month seemed like a lot of work, so I actually do it about once every 6 weeks, and everything seems fine. I set an alarm in Outlook calendar to remind me and do other maintenance at the same time, like making sure all my batteries are topped off, water is rotated, rotate which magazines are loaded, rotate the food/snacks that i keep in my vehicles, etc.

[bohoki]

Dump the gas and run it till it dies.

i agree

[splithoof]

I have an older Honda EU200I that has no fuel shutoff switch. I start and run it every month for 15-20 minutes to power some outdoor lights. Between that and all the Edison electrical service interruptions, I have never had a problem. I have a couple of times changed the oil. Store it inside the workshop in a factory cover. Stays clean, and ready to go. Best small generator ever owned.

[trailblazer87]

Just a heads up, after forgetting to run my EI22000dry the jets in the carb were plugged, damn ethanol, found this out at the campsite. To fix I disassembled the carburetor, an easy job with a minimal tool kit, and used a twist tie from a bread bag, just strip the plastic off the wire, to clean the holes in the jets, it's the right diameter and smooth so it doesn't scratch the brass jet.

[twinfin]

Just a heads up, after forgetting to run my EI22000dry the jets in the carb were plugged, damn ethanol, found this out at the campsite. To fix I disassembled the carburetor, an easy job with a minimal tool kit, and used a twist tie from a bread bag, just strip the plastic off the wire, to clean the holes in the jets, it's the right diameter and smooth so it doesn't scratch the brass jet.

Nothing like a camping trip to bring out the hillbilly engineer that lurks deep within all of us!

[pl411]

I have a Honda EU2000 I bought many moons ago. I primarily use it to run my toy hauler when I don?t need the more powerful built in generator that is much louder and less fuel efficient. While I know I shouldn?t, I regularly store the Honda with gas in it and the thing remains bulletproof after a billion hours with nothing but a few oil changes. The thing also has millions scratches on it from being banged around off-road in trailers and the back of UTVs. I keep saying I should give it some TLC with a full service but while I know it is illogical I am afraid if I mess with it I will jinx it.


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[OlderThanDirt]

Just a heads up, after forgetting to run my EI22000dry the jets in the carb were plugged, damn ethanol, found this out at the campsite. To fix I disassembled the carburetor, an easy job with a minimal tool kit, and used a twist tie from a bread bag, just strip the plastic off the wire, to clean the holes in the jets, it's the right diameter and smooth so it doesn't scratch the brass jet.

Cleaning the carburetor is an easy job. I keep an EU2000 as a backup to my backup. I also use Trufuel and keep regular gasoline as a reserve for generators and vehicles.

For most areas a trifuel generator is a great solution. I run one off the same natural gas valve as my BBQ. While there mat be localized gas pipeline failures after an earthquake, I have never lost natural gas service in over a half century, including through two major earthquakes.

I run my generators once a month. I add enough Truefuel to run the Honda for about five minutes, and fire up the trifuel generator on natural gas. The Honda usually starts on the first or second pull, while the trifuel generator only turns over for a few seconds with the electric start (the battery is always on a small smart charger).

Finally, I keep LiFePo batteries ready so I don?t have to constantly run the generator, especially at night. During a recent power outage extension cords mysteriously appeared over my wall with all the neighbors wanting a little juice. It was a good test of generator capacity and reliability. Eventually I?m hoping to be 100 percent solar and battery backup.